henry + campbell: the birth story

photo by valory jean photography 

here i am finally finding some time to write out the twins birth story, before i forget the details. before i start let me say posting will be sparse but, i have some guest posts lined up for little bit while this new mommy tries to find a routine. things are crazy around these parts. we have our sweet henry at home and our precious little campbell is still in the hospital. she was the smaller twin so she struggled a little with her feedings. she is doing well and making great progress. {more on that later...i promise} 

okay now for the part where we finally met our sweet babies.....

after a false alarm on wednesday the 8th and some high blood pressures, the doctor told us to see him friday the 10th and he would strip my membranes. my mom arrived thursday and friday afternoon we went in at 2:15pm he did his thing {which i might add was not fun!} we were walking out of the office around 2:30pm when i had my first contraction. believe me i didn't think it would work that fast. we went to target to talk around and after 20 min or so i needed to go home i couldn't even walk without doubling over in pain. at home i began timing my contractions, they were about 2 min apart. which i didn't believe. i thought i was timing them wrong. we hopped in the car and got to the hospital around 4pm. they hooked me up and sure enough they were 2 min apart and fairly strong.   

our dr showed up around 5pm and ask the nurse what i was dilated to {still a 4} he said well let's get things started. the started the iv and meds {since i tested positive for strep b} and after 2 hours or so he came back in and broke my water. once he did, things started going pretty quickly. my contractions were about a min apart and getting stronger. they then started picton which caused the painful contractions to start. i think i had about 3 or 4 which were unbearable. it was then epidural time. oh my goodness, i felt so good after that. i believe it was another 2 or so hours when they checked me again i was an 8. doctor said "ok you will be ready to push in 30min-you ready to have some babies?" the nurses began to rush around getting things ready with me and the other nurses were in the OR getting it ready. 

i was in such a daze, i couldn't believe how fast things had gone and we were minutes away from meeting our sweet babies....we were about to be parents! 

once we were in the OR i got pretty nervous. i had no idea what to expect. i didn't know how to push. i mean i have never had babies before. 

once it was time dan held a leg and the nurse the other. my body took over and it was like i knew what i was doing. dan did so well just supporting me. he kept telling me "babe you are doing so good" {between the tears} after about 4 or 5 pushes our handsome henry daniel was born at 11:47pm. i saw him for a few seconds before they passed him through the window to the special care nursery staff. 

once he was out my uterus stopped working and they had to start pictocn again because, precious campbell's head was up higher. doctor said well it's going to be about 20 minutes then he left to go tell all the grandparents that henry was here. dan was pretty excited because this meant the babies would have different birthdays. me not so much. {i have since warmed up to it! haha} 

doctor came back in and it was time to push again. after about 5 pushes {i think} our darling little campbell graced us with her presence at 12;07am on the 11th. i only saw her for a second before they passed her on. dan then went to check on the babies. while the doctor did his thing. yep, my babies have different birthdays. haha! 

they then wheeled me back into the labor room to see our family. i was in a daze, everything felt pretty surreal. after a little two nurses wheeled in our cute babies. i just cried and cried. it was the first time i had seen them. they handed me both babies, i just cried. they were so cute and i was so in love. it was the weirdest feeling meeting the two babies i carried for 35 weeks and 1 day. i tried feeding campbell but, got really sick and they had to take her away and recline my bed. i think it was all the blood loss. {im not even going to talk about how bad the after you give birth part is....all you mommas know what im talking about..pushing on the belly}

around 3:30am is when they transferred us to another room. we were greeted by nurses and they began to tell us all kind of info, half of which i don't remember. they brought me a sandwich. i ate slowly and kind of was just there in the moment. it was a long night of nurses coming in and out. i honestly don't remember much. i believe they took the babies around 6 am and let us sleep for a little but, i could be wrong. i was so exhausted. i had no idea my body could be that tired. 

all in all it was a such a fast experience that i will always remember {most of}. i keep saying i was surprised how fast and easy it was for me. i mean i have nothing else to compare it too, so....

there you have the twins birth story. they are now over a week old and doing so well. henry is such an easy baby to have at home. we just love our babies so much. i will try to find some time to write about what has been going on since then. things are hetic, stressful and exhausting. adjusting to have henry home and going everyday to see campbell. dan goes back to work tomorrow and things are going to be different. luckily my mom is here to help. i know things are only going to get crazier when campbell gets to come home. praying it's soon! 

i want to say thank you to those who have been praying for and thinking of her and us. we truly appreciate it! 

sorry if this was a novel. i figured it was easier to one post since i don't have much time to write more than one post. i promise i will try to post about recent happenings soon. until then you can seen updates on my instagram @erykaann. i usually post about campbell's progress daily. :)

xoxo

Hello World. We're here.

maternity photo session

my cousins wife val {who did our engagements and wedding photos} from valory jean photography came over this morning and took these amazing photos for me. i had the hardest time choosing which to post on here. so i apologize for the overwhelming amount of photos you are about to scroll through. i am so in love. i can't believe how amazing these are. 

as much as i am so done being pregnant, i think i may miss this basketball belly of mine. i will cherish these photos forever. what a way to remember being this pregnant with my precious babies.....

now, hurry up babies!! 

xoxo

word of the year

this year's word of the year comes after much thought and prayer. 

.:TRUST:. 

with the huge changes happening this year in our lives, i need to trust in my heavenly father that i can do all that comes my way + i need to trust myself and trust those around me. i know with a little faith and lots of trust i can do anything that comes our way this year. bring it on 2014. 

so, here's to a year of trust! 

have you chosen a word of the year? 

hello 2014

here we are again a new year...that means everyone is setting a new batch of goals they hope to achieve. i was recently looking back at my goals from last year and was surprised how many i accomplished. you can see them here {i crossed the ones i accomplished or semi accomplished out} 

the last few days i have thinking of what i want to accomplish in this new year. it's been a lot harder for me than previous years. i think part of me is scared for the new year. i mean we are becoming parents literally ANY DAY. that is flat out scary, to think i will have two precious babies to care for and love. scary but, such a blessing. 

last year on my 2013 list of goals i literally wrote "get pregnant" not knowing it would really become a reality. this year, my type of goals have changed due to this baby boy & baby girl joining our family. this year want to call my goals more wishes or hopes. below are a few hopes/wishes i have for this new year. 

+ read the book of mormon {helping me do this is the instagram bofm365-you should join too!}
+ teach my children about the love of our savior 
+ make time for dan and i even with the babies here 
+ not be afraid to ask for help when i need it 
+ take the best care of my babies that i can 
+ not judge others 
+ make time for myself 
+ read more 
+ loose the baby weight and be healthy 
+ attend the temple as much as we can 
+ do more acts of kindness 
+ be the best wife + mom for my family 
+ laugh more 
+ write monthly letters to baby h & baby c 
+ take more pictures 

these hopes/wishes are things i find doable for me. this new year is going to be full of new things for us. there will be many firsts. with all these changes happening to our family i can help but be so grateful for all we have. 2013 was a year full of heartbreak, tears, laughter, memories, adventures, surprises and love. i know dan and i both feel so blessed and grateful our heavenly father has gifted us all we have. i look forward to 2014 and can't wait to see what it brings. it's going to be a tough, new, different, and exciting one that's for sure! 

have you created any hopes/wishes for this new year? even if you don't blog them be sure to write them down somewhere! 

happy 2014, everyone. hope you come back to see what is going on here on abcde this year! 
xoxo